a like course of pure and charitable conduct? For others you cannot say what temptations they meet with; what hindrances of natural temper, or of habitual ignorance, restrain them from thus promoting the glory of God. For yourselves you have to answer according to your own knowledge of what is right. And you cannot, I trust, doubt, from this day forward, that you are bound to treat each inferior you meet with, "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved."

Go forth then to the exercise of this heavenly temper, not only as your duty, but as your privilege, as your delight. Go forth; and by God's blessing your pains shall not be vain. Your bounty shall relieve the indigent, your zeal instruct the ignorant; your care assuage the pains of the sick, your exertion redress the wrongs of the injured; your labour of love shall draw on you "the blessing of him that was ready to perish," and cause "the widow's heart to sing for joy." (See Job 29. 13.) But in the

improvement of your own minds, in the purifying of your own affections, in the conforming of your own souls to the image of Christ, in this shall be your most sure success. Thus shall ye become brethren not to men only, but to Christ; and children of that heavenly Father, who

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giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;" (James 1. 15.) who, just though He be, and knowing all things, yet, during the probation of this mortal life, "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt. 5. 45.)

SERMON X.

DUTIES OF THE LABOURING CLASSES.

1 TIM. 6. 6.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. THE most appropriate duties and the most important interests of the poor are in these few words forcibly expressed. Godliness with contentment must be to them instead of riches. A cheerful resignation to the will of God, which has cast them their lot in an inferior station, a conviction that in this station they may practise every Christian duty, attain every Christian grace, an earnest desire and honest endeavour so to do, and a lively hope that through Christ and his merits they shall enjoy hereafter treasure in heaven; these are to them great gain, these the profits and advantages which the Gospel offers to their daily search.

And first, to those of you who are in any state of service, I would shew how godliness with contentment is great gain; I would point out what peculiar duties arise from your particular situation; what course of conduct will be to you most gain, render you most happy both here and hereafter. Choose not then always that place where you may have the highest wages. Change not from master to master, that you may each time increase your income. But consider rather, when you are in search of a place, consider in whose service you may best attain to godliness with contentment. This remember is to be your gain. Look out therefore, and calculate, where you may best increase it. If it is in a family you would serve, desire to find an household that fears God; a master who will lay on you no forbidden service, who will instruct you in your duty both by precept and example, who will call you together daily in prayer, reprove in you faithfully what is wrong, and encourage you in what is holy, just, and good.

If you are to work as a labourer for hire, look not only to the amount of what is to be received, but to the hand from which it is to come. Live not on the wages of unrighteousness. Work not for that master, who by his temper would provoke you to wrath, by his oaths incline you to swear; who, by paying you in the haunts of drunkenness, would tempt you to selfish intemperance; who, by requiring you to labour on the sabbath, would at once deprive you of instruction in God's will, and would compel you knowingly to transgress it.

Or is it for your children you have to choose, when you would place them out as servants and apprentices; consider not, I repeat, consider not so much in what business, under what master, they may make most earthly profit. But look also whether it be a master that will bring them up in the fear of the Lord, whether it be a business that presents any more than usual temptation, or rather one which more than others may practise them in diligence, and sobriety, and self denial, and enable them to walk